There have been a number of occasions during the season thus far in which the Pittsburgh Steelers were short a safety due to injury, requiring a backup to come in to spell the injured starter, usually for a series or two.
Of the two starting safeties, they have just one game between them out of 10 combined in which they have played every snap, although in some cases that can be explained by the goal line defense, which requires only one safety.
When an extra body at the back end has been needed, however, it has not been third-year former fourth-round draft pick Shamarko Thomas, who was penciled in as the heir apparent and successor to Troy Polamalu throughout the offseason until just before the season opener.